ABSTRACT A novel iron-catalyzed oxidative coupling of indoles with α-amino carbonyl compounds has been developed. The transformation provides an attractive approach to the synthesis of 3-acylindoles, with the advantages of easily available starting materials and high functional group tolerance. Furthermore, control experiments imply that a radical process maybe involved in this reaction. GRAPHICAL
The reaction of indole and β-carbonyl nitrile to generate dicarbonyl indoles has been developed. This process involves α-oxonation of the β-carbonyl nitrile, Friedel–Crafts reaction with indoles and retro-cyanohydrination form dicarbonyl indoles.